1926.453(a)(1): OSHA rule
Key takeaways
- 1926.453(a)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $12,435 in current penalties.
- Related part: 1926.453(a) General requirements (15 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.453(a)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.453 Aerial lifts, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart L). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, aerial lifts acquired for use on or after January 22, 1973 shall be designed and constructed in conformance with the applicable requirements of the American National Standards for “Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms,” ANSI A92.2-1969, including appendix. Aerial lifts acquired before January 22, 1973 which do not meet the requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969, may not be used after January 1, 1976, unless they shall have been modified so as to conform with the applicable design and construction requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969. Aerial lifts include the following types of vehicle-mounted aerial devices used to elevate personnel to job-sites above ground: 2 citations
(i) Extensible boom platforms;
(ii) Aerial ladders;
(iii) Articulating boom platforms;
(iv) Vertical towers; and
(v) A combination of any such devices. Aerial equipment may be made of metal, wood, fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), or other material; may be powered or manually operated; and are deemed to be aerial lifts whether or not they are capable of rotating about a substantially vertical axis. Open (a)(1)(v)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.453.
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether a manufacturer-stipulated minimum anchor point elevation of 18 feet precludes the use of a shock absorbing lanyard in an aerial lift. (2009-01-14)
- The requirements for vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating aerial devices; effect of revised ANSI A92.2 standards. (2005-11-08)
- Safety Standards regulating the stability of mobile scaffolds, scissor lifts, and aerial work platforms. (2002-06-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.453(a) General requirements 15 citations
- 1926.453(a)(2) 13 citations
- 1926.453(a)(1)(v)
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.453 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.